Bridge grant to zoo will ease deficit

Created 05/31/2001 - 11:00pm

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere Director Rick Schwartz said he hopes a $500,000 bridge grant Mayor Bill Purcell is offering in his proposed 2002 fiscal year budget is the start of continued city support for the exotic animal facility.

Schwartz said he was pleasantly surprised Purcell included the money for the zoo in the proposed $1.23 billion operating budget, which must be approved by the Metro Council by June 30. The veteran zoo director, who has maintained consistent contact with both the mayor and Metro Finance Director David Manning regarding city support for the facility, said he now will look for additional financial assistance in the fall, when the mayor presents his capital improvements package.